While we at bdnmb.ca tend to focus on events/activities in Brandon and region, we thought that this is an event nearby that our readers would find of interest. We also know that based on attendance numbers at both the July 1st Canada Day celebrations, and the MB Summer Fair, that people in Brandon appreciate an evening spent outdoors watching a fantastic display of fireworks. Living Skies Come Alive is an annual event (now in it's 8th year) event held over two evenings at Moosomin Regional Park. Among the scheduled events are two huge fireworks shows, one on Saturday, August 05, and one one Sunday, August 6th. Both shows start at dark. This years event is being bill as an International Competition, Canada vs China. The fireworks are shot from the far shore of Lake Moosomin. Viewers watch from the other side of the lake where they can see the full display and the reflections off the water. The fireworks competition follows live, on-stage events all day featuring live music, beer gardens, kids games and bouncy toys. Moosomin and District Regional Park 14km SW of Moosomin off Hwy 8 on Grid 709 , Moosomin, Saskatchewan S0G 3N0 View Map

City of Brandon Release Brandon, MB – The City of Brandon’s Community Development section is pleased to offer another year of FREE Youth Activity Centre (YAC) programming aimed at providing fun, creative and safe opportunities for youth to enjoy their summer months. This year, programming will be offered from Tuesday, July 4th through Thursday, August 31st from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at four locations spread across the community. Planned program activities this year place a focus on sports, arts and crafts, dances, BBQ days, theme days, pool days, ‘Kids in the Kitchen’ programming and snacks. YAC East (East End Community Centre, 405 Park Street) – Mondays to Fridays, Ages 9-15 years YAC North (North End Community Centre, 1313 Stickney Avenue) – Mondays to Fridays, Ages 7-9 years, NO EXCEPTIONS YAC Central (Central Community Centre, 529-4th Street) – Mondays and Wednesdays, Ages 9-15 years YAC West (West End Community Centre, 247-23rd Street) – Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, Ages 9-15 years Registration forms for all four YAC locations can be downloaded by clicking on the following links: Ages 7 years to 11 years: http://brandonyouth.ca/images/YAC/Registration_Form_-_7-11_-_Approved.pdf Ages 12 years to 15 years: http://brandonyouth.ca/images/YAC/Registration_Form_-_12-15_-_Approved.pdf A YAC pre-registration night for families who wish to beat the lineups of opening day will also be offered on Thursday, June 22nd from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the YAC West location at the West End Community Centre. Hot dogs, chips and drinks can all be purchased for $1 each to help raise funds for this year’s YAC program. More information about the City of Brandon Youth Activity Centre (YAC) Program can be found by visiting www.brandonyouth.ca/yac, by emailing communityservices@brandon.ca, by calling the City of Brandon Community Services section at 204-729-2257, or by liking YAC Brandon on Facebook!

There’s nothing better than a cold, refreshing glass of water on a hot day or being able to fill your soaker tub with warm, calming water to wash away stress. We can’t live without water, but it’s important to recognize how destructive it can be. Did you know that water damage insurance claims are one of the most common claims for condominium owners? In fact, insurance premiums and deductibles have increased over the last few years because of the increased frequency of these claims. It doesn’t take long for a small water leak to cause thousands of dollars of damage to your home. You can save yourself time, effort and a whole lot of grief by taking a few steps to prevent water damage in your condo. Look for leaks in your pipe joints under all your sinks; repair if necessary Don’t leave home while the dishwasher or washing machine is running. Turn off the tap to washing machine when it is not in use to reduce pressure in the hose Keep your dishwasher drain free of debris and replace the hoses every 3-5 years If your refrigerator has a water dispenser/ice maker, check the water line regularly Caulk and/or grout the seals around your bathtub/shower as needed to prevent water from seeping through Know where the water shutoff valves are on your toilets; shut them off when leaving your condo for a few days Look for rust around your hot water tank, this could be a sign that tank failure is near. Replace the hot water tank every 10 years, or as required Stains on the ceiling, walls or floors is a sign of possible water leaks within the structure; contact a plumber to repair any leaks. Taking the time for preventative maintenance can help to keep your home dry and will help to avoid future insurance claims. Contact your property manager for more advice on how to further protect your condominium. Vionell Holdings Partnership (VHP) provides rental housing and property management for an array of residential and commercial customers, including Condominium Management. VHP currently has over 2,500 units under management in Manitoba.

The first ever Brandon RibFest will be held August 18-20, at the Riverbank Discovery Centre in Brandon, MB.  Enjoy award winning BBQ from three legit BBQ experts in Texas Rangers BBQ, Crabby’s BBQ Shack and Kentucky Smokehouse.  The three day event is being presented by the Brandon Sunset Rotary and Brandon Rotaract Club. This is an event for the whole family, as in addition to the great eats, there will be a kid’s zone on the Saturday and Sunday afternoon.  For those looking to enjoy an adult beverage there will be a Farmery Beer Tent located onsite.  Admission is free. Hours are from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm Friday and Saturday, and 11:00 am to 7:00 pm on the Sunday.

Planning a day trip doesn't always mean having to drive long distances or spending a ton of money. The next time you have a free day consider hopping in your car for a day trip to Eternal Springs, located approximately 50 minutes from Brandon. Eternal Springs, maintained by local volunteers, is located roughly 8 miles east of Virden and features 2 smaller stocked trout ponds, hiking trails, BBQ pits, a 66 ft swinging bridge and picnic tables. It's an ideal place to head out for a walk and explore some new hiking trails. Heading home once the hiking and exploring has been completed, you can always head over to Oak Lake (Dandy Drive Inn) for some classic drive-inn food. Word of caution, Eternal Springs is not the easiest place in world to find, so set your GPS before you leave the house. Directions: Take Hwy 254, 6.5km north of Oak Lake, then 1.5km west, 1.5km north and 4.5km west. There is a sign on the left side of the road "Eternal Springs". Drive into the park site which is @ 400meters Latitude: 49°50'8.2" (49.8356°) north Longitude: 100°43'15.2" (100.7209°) west Elevation: 396 meters (1,299 feet)